CAT SL-1 MK III vs. First Sound Presence DeLuxe

Frankpiet,
welcome!
That's strange! I cannot understand why people would tell you to "stay away" from a SL1 Sig Mk3?
In another thread 'sbank"/Spencer did quote you what Ken Stevens told him that a SL1 Sig Mk3 was the best value if you did not have the money for an Ultimake mk2.
The changes in the Ultimake mk2 are mostly to the power supply. It's more substantial than the SL1 Sig Mk3 hence the Ultimake mk2 dynamics are supposed to be better. NOte that the new product is improving upon something is very, very good already. Could you preceive the upgrade in sound? Your ears & system will be the judge.
Also, the Ultimake mk2 has some improvements so that the timbral accuracy is better than the SL1 Sig Mk3. These, I'm told, are the 2 major upgrades.

Thanks, Bombaywalla for mentioning my posts on this. I still own both preamps and in the following thread, I think that I covered best the differences, particularly the sweetness issue. I don't downgrade the F.S. for its lack of sweetness. It is startlingly good in other ways that the CAT isn't and neither is perfect. Also, in some circles, sweetness might be considered a coloration??? Each is a very fine product, and Frankpiet will only know which one (or something else?) is for him by conducting his own listening session.

Also, keep in mind that I am listening to CAT Ultimate Mk I,
not Signature Mk III and First Sound Presence Deluxe Mk II 4.0, not the more common Mk II 2.0.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1111963165&openusid&zzRayhall&4&5#Rayhall

I'm preparing to move on a First Sound and am wondering if anyone can compare the Presence Deluxe 4.0 MKII and the Paramount MkII?

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1111963165&read&keyw&zzfirst+sound+cat+sl

Years later, an observation not apparent at the time.

The outlet at the time was the PS Audio outlet (I believe it's the powerport). It is possible that the PS Audio outlet, now that I've also had FIM 880 gold, and now the Oyaide R1 outlet.
The R1 outlet has no edge in the upper midrange. It is conceivable that we are hearing our outlets, not our components. Not something I would have thought of years ago, but certainly something I hear now!

Now, the kicker: the Shunyata V2 was slightly sucked out in the upper midrange, but the PS Audio MAY, I repeat, MAY have had a boost (although I did not hear this with the Marsh A400 amp) in the upper midrange. I was also using the PS Audio Statement power cord plugged in to the Ultimate outlet.
My point in this is that, without examining every single component, down to the outlet, we may be erring on our observations.
I eventually sold the Presence Deluxe Mk. II. The new owner wrote and asked me if there was an edge in the upper midrange. I found that interesting, as we had different systems. Still and all, it may have been his outlets as well.
So, we must examine EVERYTHING.